Renewable fuse tap receptacle



May 23, 1950 T. osHlNsKY RENEWABLE FUSE TAP 4RECEPTACLE Filed May 20, 1948 JNVENTOR. A Tru-:onora: OamNsKY f'f/ZVEY Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RENEWABLE FUSE TAP RECEPTACLE Theodore Oshinsky, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 2.0, 1948, Serial No. 28,065

This invention relates to new and useful imy' provements in electrical devices, and, more par'- ticularly, aims to provide a novel and valuable fused attachment plug.

According to the invention, a plug is provided for attachment to a source of current supply, as a wall receptacle, and itself adapted to act as an intermediate receptacle, that is, for having attached thereto an ordinary type of plug such, for instance, as connected to a lamp, a toaster, a radio or any electrically operative device or apparatus.

As preferably embodied, the fused attachment plug of the present invention is provided with a plurality of socketing means, as, for example, three thereof, so that one or more or all of them may be used as the occasion may require, each for a plug connected to an individual such electrically operative device or apparatus.

A salient feature of the present invention is that a fuse means is incorporated in the new attachment plug, in such manner that the current flowing through the plug must traverse a fuse element, if only one such be present, or a plurality of fuse elements in series relation, thereby to insure that, should any one or more of said electrically operative devices or apparatus, then being served by way of the new plug as an intermediary, cause a surge of current of an amperage so high as otherwise to blow a main fuse at a remote point and usually difficult or at least troublesome to locate, the fuse means in the new attachment plug will, instead, be blown; with the arrangement such that the fuse means of the new plug includes one or more fuses of the cartridge type, and with the arrangement further such that the single or any one of several such cartridge fuses present may be easily and instantaneously removed for inspection, by straight-line endwise pull, and the same or a substitute cartridge fuse may be inserted with equal convenience and dispatch and by straight-line endwise push.

In this connection, the new plug is in a casing incorporating a main compartment and one or more minor well-like compartments each open at one end, these minor compartments being pro vided to the number of cartridge fuses to be used and each for one cartridge fuse. As the invention is preferably embodied, two such minor compartments are present, these preferably at opposite sides of said main compartment. The main compartment is for carrying the aforesaid socketing means, which latter as here shown includes a plurality thereof; each of such socketing means 6 Claims.y (Cl. 20o-115.5)

f 2 comprising a pair of slots for insertion of the prongs of an ordinary attachment plug.

Even with fused cartridge insertable and withdrawable from the new attachment plug as already explained, there is no danger of a fuse dropping out of the plug, or of a fuse shifting therein to cause an unintended circuit interruption; this objective being attained by the manner in which an electrically conductive part, inbuilt into the plug and extended from its main compartment into each minor compartment for the housing of a. cartridge fuse, acts not only to place the fuse in circuit but also to frictibnally engage the fuse in such manner as to grip the same in a unique way, that is, more specifically, in an absolutely secure way, yet impositively.

When a standard cartridge fuse is employed, which is a preferred contemplation of the invention, such a fuse having a glass or other transparent and non-conductive tube having a fusible ribbon lengthwisely extended therethrough and connected at opposite ends to metal end caps on the tube, this fuse can be inserted fully into its compartment, to obtain the advantages aforesaid, and yet in a way to permit the fuse to be instantly manually withdrawn from said compartment without possibility of electrical shock. 'I'his safeguard results from the provision of a re-usable auxiliary metal cap, snappable over either of the first-named end caps, and carrying a finger-piece, as one in the form of a small knob, suitably insulated from the auxiliary cap.

Further features of the invention are, among others, that said auxiliary cap is securely yet merely frictionally held on an end cap of the fuse, thereby to permit immediate and easy transfer of said auxiliary cap, from a fuse which has blown, to a new fuse; and that one electrically conductive part projected into a fuse compartment is so shaped and arranged that, in coaction with another such part projected into the fuse compartment for engaging the fuses end cap at that end of the fuse which is at the bottom of the compartment, the fuse is maintained in circuit.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l shows in front elevation a now favored embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is also a rear elevation, but with a back plate and its attaching screws omitted; this view being partially in section, at two fuse compartments, and with one fuse, carrying the aforesaid auxiliary cap, indicated in dot and dash lines as positioned in one of said l'use compartments.

Fig. 4 is entirely a rear elevation, with said back plate omitted, and also with all conductive elements omitted, so as more clearly to show various conl'ormations in the main compartment.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, further to clarify said conformations.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the complete collection of conductive elements omitted from Figs. 4 and 5, in substantially true relative spatial arrangement.

Fig. '1 is an exploded perspective view, of .a fuse. and of a detachable device to be carried thereby. said device comprising the auxiliaryA cap and finger-piece aforesaid.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the fused plug illustrated comprises a casing I0, having a box-like main central compartment provided through its front wall with three pairs of oppositely spaced and aligned slots II, I2 and I4. Each of these slots, as is conventional, desirably has its outer end at the bottom of a frustopyramidal depression, as indicated in Figs. i and 5, at the front of the casing, for facilitating entry into a selected slot pair of the pair or prongs carried in the well-known manner by an ordinary plug.

The slots II, I2 and I4 all enter the said main compartment I5, which latter is mteriorly shaped. as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, to have a high cylindrical projection I6 between the slots II, an equally high cylindrical projection I1 between the slots I4. a lower cylindrical projection I8 between the slots I2, an extension I8 from the projection I1 and of the same height as the projection I8, a web joining the adjacent portions of the projections I6 and I8 and laterally extended at opposite sides to merge with a pair of straight and parallel ribs 2I and 22. a pair of oppositely directed webs 23 and 24 extended from the lower portion of the projection I1 and also merging with the said ribs ZI and 22, and a channel 25 beyond the outer side of the rib 2| and a channel 26 beyond the outer side of the rib 22.

With the projection I8 as just stated lower than the projections I6 and I1, the webs 20, 23 and 24 are lower than the projection I8. At the same time the ribs 2| and 22 are a trifle higher than the said webs.

The casing I0. together with the lateral side extensions 21 and 28 thereof, is desirably made by moulding, from any suitable plastic material having good dielectric properties. The above described or other suitable interior formations may be readily incorporated in the casing I6 during moulding thereof; and while in part the said formations as above described are more or less conventional, all of said formations have been' discussed in considerable detail in order to render clearer the manner in which the conductive parts permanently to be included in the new plug may be practicably and inexpensively mounted in place.

Within each of the side extensions 21 and 26 from the main central portion of the casing I0, and which extensions may be laterally rounded along their sides remote from the main central portion of the casing I0, is a generally cylindrical compartment 30 or 3l. open at one end. Near its open end the compartment 30 connects with the main compartment I6 by way of a slot 32, and adjacent its opposite end said compartment communicates with said main compartment by way of an opening 33. Similarly, near its open end the compartment 3I has a slot 34 and at the inner end thereof an opening 36.

The projections I6 and I1 have tapped holes 36 and 31, these for taking screws 38 and 39 (Fig. 2), passed through a suitable back plate 40, as one of cardboard, fibre or any suitable material; said back plate having a pair of slots through which are projected. rearwardly of the plug, the two prongs 4I and 42 carried by the plug and to be inserted into slots in a wall receptacle or the like.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, the prongs 4I and 42 are shown as upstanding extensions from L-shaped conducting members 43 and 44.

The member 43, below the bottom of the prong 4I, has a horizontal, apertured ear 45; and at the outer end of the horizontal limb of said member is an offset extension 46. suitably secured, as by soldering as indicated at 41, to a thinner and resilient conductive strip 48 having at its upper end an outwardly arched lip 50.

The member 44, below the bottom of the Dron 42, has a horizontal, apertured ear 5I; and at the outer end of the horizontal limb of said member is an offset extension 62, suitably secured. as by soldering as indicated at 53, to a thinner and resilient conductive strip 54I having at its upper end an outwardly arched lip 46.

With the main length of the strip 48 in the channel 25, and then with said lip 5o projected into and through the slot 32 and thus resiliently entered into the compartment 30 near its upper open end, all the parts 4I-48 and 50 are secured in place as shown in Fig. 3, and with the flat of said main length close against the outer side of said channel, by applying the screw 51 through the aperture of the ear 45 and into a tapped hole 58 in the extension I8 from the projection I1.

Similarly, with the main length of the strip 54 in the channel 26, and then with said lip 56 projected into and through the slot 34 and thus resiliently entered into the compartment 3| near its upper open end. all the parts 42, 44. 6I-64 and 56\are secured in place as shown in Fig. 3, and with the flat of said main length close against the outer side of said channel. by applying a screw 59 through the aperture of the ear 5I and into a tapped hole 6I) in the projection I8.

However, before thus mounting the prongs 4I and 4Z and their carried parts, two fitments 6I and 62, made of thin resilient sheet metal stock. are mounted in place.

The iitment 6I is a strip having tine-like lateral extensions 63, each bent up on itself to a V-shaped formation including a spring leaf 64. These formations are so spaced along the length of the strip, in the present case, that with one leaf 64 lying alongside the projection I1, another of these leaves lies alongside the projection I8 and the other leal` lie. alongside the projection I6. Between two adjoining ones of said formations the strip has an inbent apertured ear 66, and between the other two adjoining ones of said formation the strip has an inbent apertured ear also marked 65.

At one end, the fitment 6I is prolonged beyond said formations 63 and is bent to incorporate an outwardly offset extension 66, which, beyond the adiacent end of the rib 2|, passes through the opening 33 and so into the bottom of the compartment 30. Said extension 68, which may be arranged to lie fiat in the bottom of the fuse compartment 38, as shown in full lines in Fig, 3, is desirably resiliently biased so as always to tend to assume the disposition indicated in dot and dash lines at 86B.

The fitment 82 is exactly like the fitment 6I, with all the parts thereof to which reference numerals with added primes are applied corresponding to the parts of the iitment 8| to which reference numerals without primes are applied; except that the offset extension 88' is projected in a direction opposite to the direction of projection of the extension 88, so that the extension 68 passes beyond the adjacent end of the rib 22 and thence through the opening 35 and so into the bottom of the compartment 8|,

The tments 8| and 62, so far as is concerned their inclusion of such elements as the formations 63 and 83 and the leaves 84 and 84', are conventional in the art.

For mounting the fitment 8|, by way of its two ears 85 and by use of screws 61, 81, a tapped hole 68 is provided at one side of the web 20 and a tapped hole 89 is provided in the web Z3. For mounting the fitment 62, by way of its two ears 85', and by the use of screws 10, 10, a tapped hole 1I is provided at the other side of the web 28 and a tapped hole 12 is provided in the web 24.

With both fitments 8| and 82 thus mounted, against the side of the projection I8 opposite the side thereof against which lies a spring leaf 84 will lie a spring leaf 84', against the side of the projection I8 opposite the side thereof against which lies a spring 84 will also lie a spring leaf 84', and against the side of the projection l1 opposite the side thereof against which lies a spring leaf 84 will also lie a spring leaf 84'. Thus, at any of said three projections, the pair of slots Il, I2 or I4, as the case may be, will be served by a pair of spring leaves 64 and 84', in such manner that on inserting the prongs of an ordinary plug into any of said slot pairs, the tments 8| and 82 will be bridged by a circuit subdivision including the wiring from the plug last-mentioned.

The member 43, it will be noted, is undercut at 13, further to insure against accidental contact between said member and the fitment 6|. Similarly, and for a like purpose, relative to the tment 82, the member 44 is undercut, at 14.

In Fig. 3, also, a cartridge fuse 19 is illustrated as fully inserted into the compartment 3|. Referring to Fig. 7, such fuse is shown as a conventional one, incorporating a glass tube 88, and metal end caps 8| and 82. The aforesaid auxiliary metal cap, marked 83, is shown as drawn from a thin resilient sheet metal so as to include a disk-like central portion 84 having extended therefrom two laterally rounded and apron-like side walls 83', these walls resiliently biased toward each other for fairly tight frictional clasp on either of the end caps 8| and 82. To facilitate this grip, said walls are shown as shaped along their side edges to provide oppositely located openings approximately of hourglass outline, and each of said walls is shown as having a slit 85.

Rigidly carried by the auxiliary cap 83, at the side of said disk-like portion 84 opposite to the side thereof from which are extended the apronlike walls 83', is a knob-like finger-piece 88, of insulating material. This element 88 may be fixedly secured to the auxiliary cap in any suitable way, as, for instance, by a screw or the like sent through a central aperture in to disk-like portion 84. Such screw or the like could be partially embedded in the finger-piece 88, as during the molding of the latter from a plastic. The thus embedded element is indicated in Fig. '1 at 81 as a headed one. In that case, the outer end of said embedded element could be somewhat projected beyond an end of the finger-piece, for being headed over after being passed through said central aperture.

im will be now understood, a circuit through the new plug can be closed only if neither of the fuses in the compartments and 3| are blown. Immediately an overload occurs in a circuit subdivision including conductive parts of the new plug, one of the fuses will blow, and such circuit subdivision will fail. Then, instantaneously. a fuse may be withdrawn by straight endwise movement thereof, and a glance will show whether that fuse is still good; and if still good, the other fuse will be similarly withdrawable for quick inspection. The fuse found to be blown will be discarded, the auxiliary cap removed therefrom and substituted on a new fuse, and the new fuse with the auxiliary cap thereon will be inserted, again instantaneously and merely by straight endwise movement thereof.

On thus inserting a new fuse, there is no need to give the same any particular angular adjustment, since when the fuse is fully inserted, its

then lowermost cap 8| or 82 will contact the ex-` tension 88 or 86' at the bottom of the compartment, and then the spring lip 60 or 58 will bear tightly against either one of the apron-like walls 83' of the auxiliary cap or directly against the then uppermost end cap 8| or 82 of the fuse.

The circuit through the new plug may be traced as including the prong 4|, the member 43, the strip 48, the lip 50, the fusible ribbon of the fuse in the compartment 30, the extension 88 of the fitment 8|, a leaf 84 of said fitment, the leaf 84' which on the fitment 82 is opposite said leaf 84, said fltment 82, the extension 88' of said tit# ment, the fusible ribbon of the fuse in the compartment 3|, the lip 58 of the strip 54, said strip, the member 44, and the prong 42.

As will be understood, the invention may be carried out by providing only one compartment for a cartridge fuse, as merely the compartment 30 or 3| or an equivalent. In such case. one of the fitments 8| and 82 would have its extension 88 or 68 omitted, and that fitment would be connected directly to one of the members 43 and 44; while there would also be omitted that one of the strips 48 and 84 then unnecessary to be present.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. Fuse means for an electrical outlet plug having a hollow casing enclosing spaced contact fitments and including a front wall formed with spaced sets of aligned slots through which the prongs of conventional electrical plugs can be extended to engage the contact ftments and spaced side walls, comprising cylindrical compartments formed on the side walls and extended laterally therefrom, each of said compartments being closed at one end and open at the other end for endwise insertion of a cartridge fuse of the type having metallic end caps, said side walls being formed adjacent the closed ends of said compartments with openings and adjacent the open ends of said compartments with slots connecting the interior of said compartments with the interior of the casing, conductive strips-Within the casing extended parallel to but spaced from the contact iitments, conducting members connected to one of the ends of each of said conductive strips and extended from the casing to be attached to a source of electric current, and an outwardly arched lip formed on the other end of each of said conductive strips and projected through said slots into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at one end of each of the cartridge fuses, each of the contact fltments having one of its end portions bent into an offset extension, said offset extensions being projected through said openings into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at the other end of each of the cartridge fuses.

2. Fuse `means for an electrical outlet plug having a hollow casing enclosing spaced contact fitments and including a front wall formed with spaced sets of aligned slots through which the prongs of conventional electrical plugs can be extended to engage the contact fitments and spaced side walls, comprising cylindrical compartments formed on the side walls and extended laterally therefrom, each of said compartments being closed at one end and open at the other end for endwise insertion of a cartridge fuse of the type having metallic end caps. said side walls being formed adjacent the closed ends of said compartments with openings and adjacent the open ends of said compartmentswith slots connecting the interior of said compartments with the interior of the casing, conductive strips within the casing extended parallel to but spaced from the contact iitments, conducting members connected to one of' the ends of each of said conductive strips and extended from the casing to be attached toY a source of electric current, and an outwardly arched lip formed on the other end of' each of said conductive strips and projected through said slots into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at one end of each of the cartridge fuses, each of the contact iitments having one of its end portions bent into an offset extension, said offset extensions being projected through said openings into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at the other end of each of the cartridge fuses, said conductive strips being formed of flexible material and the said one ends of said conductive strips being retained against movement by reason of the attachment to said conducting members, said arched lips being extended into said compartments so that the space between said lips and the opposed walls of said compartments will be less than the diameter of the engaged end caps of the fuses pressing the engaged end caps into frictional contact with the opposed walls retaining the fuses in position within said compartments and retaining each of the end caps at the other end of the fuses in engagement with said offset extensions of the contact fitments.

3. Fuse means for an electrical outlet plug having a hollow casing enclosing spaced contact fltments and including a front wall formed with spaced sets of aligned slots through which the prongs oi' conventionalelectrical plugs can be extended to engage the contact fitments and spaced side walls, comprising cylindrical compartments formed on the side walls and extended laterally therefrom, each of said compartments being closed at one end an'd open at the other end for endwise insertion ",of a cartridge fuse of the type having metallicend caps, said side walls being formed adjacent the closed ends of said compartments with openings and adjacent the open ends of said compartments with slots connecting the interior of said compartments with the interior of the casing, conductive strips within the casing extended parallel to but spaced from the contact iitments, conducting members connected to one of the ends of each of said conductive strips and extended from the casing to be attached to a source of electric current, and an outwardly arched lip formed on the other end of each of said conductive strips and projected through said slots into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at one end of each of the cartridge fuses, each of the contact fitments having one of its end portions bent into an offset extension, said offset extensions being projected through said openings into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at the other end of each of the cartridge fuss, a cartridge fuse in each of said compartments having end caps engaged by said lips and said offset extensions, and means on the end caps at the open ends of said compartments by which said fuses can be gripped for pulling them out of the open ends of said compartments 4. Fuse means for an electrical outlet plug having a hollow casing enclosing spaced contact fltments and including a iront wall formed with spaced sets of aligned slots through which the prongs of conventional electrical plugs can be extended to engage the contact ftments and spaced side walls, comprising cylindrical compartments formed on the side walls and extended laterally therefrom, each of said compartments being closed at one end and open atthe other end for endwise insertion of a cartridge fuse of the type having metallic end caps, said side walls being formed adjacent the closed ends of said compartments with openings and adjacent the open ends of said compartments with slots connecting the interior of said compartments with the interior of the casing, conductive strips within the casing extended parallel to but spaced from the contact ftments, conducting members connected to one of the ends of each of said conductive strips and extended from the casing to be attached to a source of electric current, and an outwardly arched lip formed on the other end of each of said conductive strips and projected through said slots into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at one end of each of the cartridge fuses, each of the contact fltments having one of its end portions bent into an offset extension, said offset extensions being projected through said openings into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at the other end of each of the cartridge fuses, a cartridge fuse in each of said compartments having end caps engaged by said lips and said offset extensions, and means on the end caps at the open ends of said compartments by which said fuses can be gripped for pulling them out of' the open ends of said compartments, said means on said end caps. comprising an auxiliary cap for each of said fuses having disc-like central portions engaging the ends of the respective fuse caps and a pair oi opposed laterally rounded side walls frictionally gripping the respective fuse caps, and ngerpieces mounted on said central portions and projected from the open ends of said compartments.

5. Fuse means for an electrical outlet plug having a hollow casing enclosing spaced contact iltments and including a front wall formed with spaced sets of aligned slots through which the prongs of conventional electrical plugs can be extended to engage the contact fltments and spaced side walls, comprising cylindrical compartments formed on the side walls and extended laterally therefrom, each of said compartments being closed at one end and open at the other end for endwise insertion of a cartridge fuse of the type having metallic end caps, said side walls being formed adjacent the closed ends of said compartments with openings and adjacent the open ends of said compartments with slots connecting the interior of said compartments with the interior of the casing, conductive strips within the casing extended parallel to but spaced from the contact iltments, conducting members connected to one of the ends of each of said conductive strips and extended from the casing to be attached to a source of electric current, and an outwardly arched lip formed on the other end of each of said conductive strips and projected through said slots into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at one end oi each of the cartridge fuses. each oi the contact tments having one o! its end portions bent into an offset extension, said otlset extensions being projected through said openings into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at the other end oi' each of the cartridge fuses, a cartridge fuse in each of said compartments having end caps engaged by said lips and said offset extensions, and means on the end caps at the open ends of said compartments by which said fuses can be gripped for pulling them out oi' the open ends of said compartments, said means on said end caps, comprising an auxiliary cap for each of said fuses having disc-like central portions engaging the ends o! the respective fuse caps and a pair of opposed laterally rounded side walls frictionally gripping the respective fuse caps, and finger-pieces mounted on said central portions and projected from the open ends of said compartments, said laterally,rounded side walls being formed with slits rendering them nexible for gripping the respective fuse caps.

8. Fuse means for an electrical outlet plug having a hollow casing enclosing spaced contact ntments and including a front wall formed with spaced sets of aligned slots through which the prongs oi conventional electrical plugs can be ex- 10 tended to engage the contact iltments and spaced side walls. comprising cylindrical compartments formed on the side walls and extended laterally therefrom, each of said compartments being closed at one end and open at the other end for endwise insertion of a cartridge fuse of the type having metallic end caps, said side walls being formed adjacent the closed ends of said compartments with openings and adjacent the open ends of said compartments with slots connecting the interior of said compartments with the interior of the casing, conductive strips within the casing extended parallel to but spaced from the contact tments, conducting members connected to one of the ends of each of said conductive strips and extended from the casing to be attached to a source of electric current, and an outwardly arched lip formed on the other end of each of said conductive strips and projected through said slots into said compartments i or making electrical contact with the end caps at one end of each of the cartridge fuses, each of the contact iltments having one of its end portions bent into an onset extension, said otlset extensions being projected through said openings into said compartments for making electrical contact with the end caps at the other end of each of the cartridge fuses, a cartridge fuse in each of said compartments having end caps engaged by said lips and said oil'set extensions, and means on the end caps at the open ends of said compartments by which said fuses can be gripped for pulling them out of the open ends of said compartments, said means on said end caps, comprising an auxiliary cap for each of said fuses having disc-like central portions engaging the ends of the respective fuse caps and a pair of opposed laterally rounded side walls frictionally gripping the respective fuse caps, and nger-pieces mounted on said central portions and projected from the open ends of said compartments, said finger-pieces being formed of insulation material.

THEODORE OSHINSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 776,326 Hubbell Nov. 29, 1904 1,718,518 Barnett June 25, 1929 1,974,700 Adams Sept. 25, 1934 2,207,837 Sundt July 16, 1940 2,258,231 Alden Oct. 7, 1941 2,437,802 Adler Mar. 16, 1948 2,454,024 Alemaghides Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 369,580 Germany Feb. 20, 1923 

